Because of its scarcity in his native China, water has long intrigued Song Liang.

Liang's family and the members of his community had limited access to clean drinking water as they grew up in China's southwest mountain region. That hardship inspired Liang to study dangerous organisms that can live in water. While in college, he focused on the waterborne Schistosoma parasite that is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths a year.

Today, the assistant professor in the College of Public Health's Division of Environmental Health Sciences continues to pursue water-related research. He's become an expert in assessing risk factors of water-related pathogens and the environmental determinants of infectious diseases. He has traveled to rural villages in Japan, Africa and China to better understand why disease outbreaks occur and how to prevent them.

The replacement of an electrical switch will force the closing of Starling-Loving Hall Oct. 29-31. Faculty, staff and students will not be permitted to enter the building beginning at 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. It will be necessary to shut down all computers, servers and electrical equipment beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday. Starling-Loving will reopen for regular business hours on Nov. 1. For more information, contact Facilities Manager Renee Watts at rwatts@cph.osu.edu.

CPH at APHA, Nov. 6-10

The College of Public Health will have an exhibitor booth at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting and exposition Nov. 6-10 in Denver. If you will be attending the event and are interested in helping out by answering questions and providing information, contact Judy Dawson, coordinator of recruitment and admissions, at jdawson@cph.osu.edu.

If you are attending or presenting at APHA, please also contact Christine O'Malley at comalley@cph.osu.edu.

The College of Public Health will hold a reception and dinner on Nov. 8 in Denver. Learn more >

NEW GRANTS AND CONTRACTS

Allard Dembe, chair and associate professor in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy, received an award from the Ohio Department of Mental Health for a project titled "Feasibility study and needs assessment: Integrating health care for high-mortality general medical conditions into everyday treatment," which includes College of Public Health co-investigators Jamie Partridge, Sandra Tanenbaum and Thomas Wickizer.

David Murray, chair and professor in the Division of Epidemiology, received an award from the University of North Carolina for a study titled "Childhood obesity prevention and treatment research coordinating unit."

Eric Seiber, assistant professor in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy, received an award from Penn State University for a study titled "Patterns of cancer care in Appalachia."

Sandra Tanenbaum, associate professor in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy, received an award from the Ohio Department of Mental Health for a study titled "Consumer and family perspectives on economic recession."

Bucks for Charity update

The College of Public Health is at 54 percent of its Bucks for Charity goal of $13,000. Thank you to the faculty and staff members who've pledged $7,017 to the charities for their choice.

For those who have not yet participated, you can access the Resource Guide here or obtain a hard copy from a division coordinator. If you do not find your 501c3 charity of choice in the Resource Guide, you can pledge to that organization by completing the "other agency designation." All you need is the Tax ID number of that organization to complete the pledge. You have the option of a one-time donation or payroll deduction.

Joanne Pearsol, associate director of the Center for Public Health Practice, will lead a roundtable discussion on public engagement from 2:30-4 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting and exposition, Nov. 6-10 in Denver.

Pearsol will demonstrate how organizations can reduce costs associated with planning and implementing public-engagement meetings through her presentation titled "A shoestring budget: Can it work for engaging the public?"

For more information about the APHA annual meeting and exposition, click here >

Joanne Pearsol

Health Administration alumnus bikes for a good cause

Alumnus Alan Channing, president and CEO of Sinai Health System in Chicago, recently participated in a cycling event called "Cycling for Sinai" to raise money for the hospital.

Channing, who received a Master of Science from Ohio State in 1971, rode a portion of the bike route, which extends from San Diego to St. Augustine, Fla.

Liz Klein, assistant professor in the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, was a guest on "All Sides with Ann Fisher" on Oct. 13. Klein joined others in the community to discuss the health and economic impact of Ohio's 2006 indoor smoking ban law. Listen here >

Regan Miller, who received an MHA from the College of Public Health and an MD from the College of Medicine, is a featured expert on stroke treatment in the fall 2010 issue of Good Health, a publication of the Mount Carmel health system. Miller is certified in neurology and practices at Mount Carmel Neurology Providers at East on the campus of Mount Carmel East. A copy of the publication is available in the CPH communications office.

New health report shows public supports prevention

The website Trust for America's Health recently posted a report titled "Community Prevention and the Public" that reveals 73 percent of Americans support allocating resources toward community prevention initiatives that make it easier for people to maintain their health and make healthier choices. View the report here >

Open Enrollment happening now

Benefits Open Enrollment began this week and will continue through Nov. 5. You are encouraged to enroll online at http://hr.osu.edu/oe, where you'll find detailed information about health plans and other useful tools. Please take a moment to review your covered dependents and ensure that they meet the university's eligibility guidelines. For those who wish to enroll via paper forms, all forms are available in printable format online or by contacting Human Resources at service@hr.osu.edu or 292-1050.

Staff Career Development Grants

The application deadline is Nov. 15 for 2010 Staff Career Development Grants of up to $500 each, awarded annually to offset education and training costs needed to further staff career goals and professional development. To be eligible, you must be a regular full-time or part-time staff member and have at least two years of continuous employment with Ohio State by January 1, 2011. Click here to apply.

Institutional research seed grants available

The OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center is offering American Cancer Society-supported seed grants of up to $30,000 to independent junior faculty and their equivalent for the initiation of cancer research projects so they can obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for national research grants. Past applicants who did not receive funding are encouraged to resubmit. Apply by Nov. 15. Contact Angela Cerasoli at angela.cerasoli@osumc.edu or 293-4635. Read more >

Free flu shots offered on campus

Staff and faculty may receive a free seasonal/H1N1 combination flu shot at several campus locations through Oct. 27, courtesy of Your Plan for Health. Choose a date and location. Your employee ID number is necessary to register. Employee ID number and photo ID required at your appointment. The campus flu campaign also includes a number of dates open to adult dependents (18 years and older) of employees who are enrolled in a university medical plan. Dependents must present their health insurance card and a photo ID. Learn more >

UPCOMING WEBINAR, CONFERENCES

OSU Climate Change Webinar Series, Nov. 2

Brent Sohngen, professor of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, will present "Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Great Lakes Farms and Forests" at noon Nov. 2 as part of the OSU Climate Change Outreach Team's webinar series. The third of four online seminars this fall, the webinar series is part of a multi-departmental effort within the University to help localize the climate change issue to Ohioans and Great Lakes residents. Register online by Nov. 1 Contact: Jill Jentes Banicki at jentes.1@osu.edu.

APHA-SA Annual National Student Meeting, Nov. 6

The Sixth Annual National Student Meeting, sponsored by the APHA Student Assembly, will be held on Nov. 6 during the APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Denver. "Passing the Torch to Ignite a New Vision: Developing New Leaders for a New Decade" will allow students to network with fellow public health students; gain access to professional development information and materials; visit with employers who are recruiting for jobs and internships in public health, research and communication; and participate in speed mentoring. To register >

Public-smoking ban in India

India may have banned smoking in public, but it's not exactly making smokers an endangered species. (Reported by the Los Angeles Times.) Read more >

The next public health crisis: Longevity

Since 1900, life expectancy for the average American has increased by three decades, creating a host of medical, financial and public policy challenges. (Reported by The New York Times.) Read more >

The controversy of fracking

A dramatic technique for mining oil and natural gas called hydraulic fracturing is under fire. (Reported by POPSCI.) Read more >

RIGHT ON COURSE -- Liz Klein, assistant professor in the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion (left), and Susan Olivo-Marston, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology (right), are attending the 2010 Course Design Institute offered by the Younkin Success Center in the Office of Student Life. The five-week program provides support to Ohio State faculty members wanting to design a new college course or redesign an old one.

"I've learned more concrete ways to connect MPH competencies to course goals, objectives and class assignments," said Klein, who is redesigning a course in community health assessment.

Olivo-Marston is designing a new course on public-health nutrition that will be offered in the spring. "I've learned how to take information on what you want the students to learn in your course and generate course goals, learning objectives and appropriate assignments," she said.

Photo Request:
The communications office wants your photo submissions to publish in the Photo Finish section of Tuesday Times and Alma Matters. We're looking for photos that depict any public health experience. Ideas for entries include a school or community event, a faculty or student research project and a fellowship or internship experience. Please send images with a brief description to wpramik@cph.osu.edu.

View past issues of Tuesday Times on Microsoft Outlook in the "Tuesday Times" folder within the public folders or here on our Web site >

OCT. 27-28

"Reinventing Normal: Community Resilience in the Face of Tragedy," two-day conference on how communities cope with tragedies presented by the Center for Public Health Practice, Holiday Inn in Worthington. Other sponsors include the Ohio Public Health Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Ohio Psychological Association. For more information >

OCT. 28

College of Public Health Seminar: "Empowering equity: Understanding predictors of disease self-management in teens with chronic disease," 9-10 a.m., Starling-Loving Hall, room M-010. Speaker: Deena J. Chisolm, assistant professor of Pediatrics, Ohio State University and the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Presented by the Division of Health Behavior and Health Promotion. For more information, call 614-292-4685. Learn more >

Maurice "Mo" Mullet Student Alumni Forum: "Building a bridge: The relationship between medicine, business and global health care," 5:30 p.m., Meiling Hall, room 160. Speaker Anne Klamar, who graduated from the College of Medicine in 1990, will discuss her transition from a small, family medical practice to becoming CEO of the Midmark Corp., as well as the impact of healthcare reform and her passion for global health. Presented by the Medical Student Alumni Council and Medical Center Alumni Affairs.Register here >

NOV. 2

College of Public Health Seminar: "Bed bugs: The re-emergence of a public health pest," 12:30-1:18 p.m., Starling-Loving Hall, room M-008. Speaker: Susan C. Jones, associate professor of Entomology at The Ohio State University. Brown bag lunches are welcome. RSVP to cphevents@cph.osu.edu. Read more >

NOV. 3

HSMP Seminar Series: "Translational research on steroids: The case of the National Cancer Institute's National Community Centers Program," 3:30-4:30 p.m., Faculty Club, rooms A, B and C (second floor). Reception to follow. Presented by Arnold D. Kalunzy, professor emeritus, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. For more information, e-mail Beth Rowley at browley@cph.osu.edu.

2010 Research Expo: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Ohio Union. The Expo celebrates innovative research at Ohio State and highlights the wide range of support services available to researchers. For more info >

NOV. 4

CPH Alumni Society Lunch-and-Learn: "Bridges out of poverty," 12:30-1:30 p.m., Graves Hall, room 1195. Speaker: Louise Seipel, vice president of Community Properties of Ohio, a community-based property management company committed to stabilizing families by providing quality affordable housing. A light lunch will be served. Presented by the College of Public Health Alumni Society. RSVP by Nov 2 to buckeyes@cph.osu.edu. Learn more >

NOV. 6

Annual Infectious Diseases Update: The Division of Infectious Diseases and the Center for Continuing Medical Education of the OSU Medical Center are hosting the 6th Annual Infectious Diseases Update 2010 on Nov. 6 at the Fawcett Center. Register here >

NOV. 6-10

APHA Annual Meeting: The American Public Health Association will hold its annual meeting and exposition Nov. 6-10 in Denver. The theme of the 138th meeting is "Social Justice: A Public Health Imperative." Learn more >

NOV. 8

Annual APHA Reception and Dinner: The College of Public Health is holding a reception and dinner on Nov. 8 as part of the American Public Health Association annual meeting and exposition in Denver, Nov. 6-10. Learn more >